Vizhinjam International Seaport Thiruvananthapuram
വിഴിഞ്ഞം അന്താരാഷ്ട്ര തുറമുഖം തിരുവനന്തപുരം
Location
Country India
LocationVizhinjam,Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Coordinates8°22′21″N 76°59′55″E / 8.37250°N 76.99861°E / 8.37250; 76.99861
UN/LOCODEIN VZJ
Details
Opened
  • October 2023
    (Partially operational)[1]
  • May 2024
    (Phase one completion expected)[2]
Operated byVizhinjam International Seaport Ltd (VISL) & Adani Vizhinjam Port Pvt Ltd (AVPL)
Owned byGovernment of Kerala
Type of harbourAll-weather[3],
Multipurpose[3],Green[4] Deep-Water Mega Seaport
No. of berths30[5]
Draft depth24 m (79 ft)
Statistics
Website
www.vizhinjamport.in

The Vizhinjam International Seaport Thiruvananthapuram (VIST) locally known as Vizhinjam Seaport (Malayalam:വിഴിഞ്ഞം അന്താരാഷ്ട്ര തുറമുഖം തിരുവനന്തപുരം) is India's first deep-water mega container transshipment port, which is under construction.[6] It is a multi-purpose,all-weather, green port located 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) away from the Trivandrum International Airport at Vizhinjam, Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala. It is also the first automated port in India and the sole port in the country to be located adjacent to an international shipping route. Being a greenfield seaport, it provides flexibility in design and future expansion. The seaport will be connected by India's third-longest railway tunnel, presently under construction phase.[7] It possesses the capability to host world's massive cargo ships such as vessels of the ULCS container ships like the MSC Irina. The cruise berth being constructed along the break water can accommodate the world's largest luxury cruise ships for docking, such as the Icon of the Seas, as of the year 2023. The seaport has a natural depth of 20 meters and is located just 10 nautical miles away from the busiest international east-west shipping channel connecting Europe, Persian Gulf, and the Far East. The port's strategic location, as the only Indian port in close proximity to an international shipping channel, ensures easy access to global trade networks. When fully commissioned, the seaport will have the capacity to cater to 75 percent of the container transhipment needs of India that currently take place at Dubai, Colombo and Singapore.[8] The first phase of the project amounts to 7,700 crore Indian rupee, and the combined cost of all four phases, including the remaining three, is 20,000 crore making the total cost 27,700 crore. The Vizhinjam Seaport project is the first and only port project in India to receive VGF funding.

There is no littoral sedimentation and due to natural depth availability, the site needs no dredging or minimal capital dredging requirements. Vizhinjam seaport is categorized as an all-weather port, and its operational efficiency remains unaffected by the variations in high and low tide, due to its minimal tidal range variation. Each berth has the capacity to handle 18,000 TEU. The Port is located on the Arabian Sea – Laccadive Sea – Indian Ocean and the first phase is expected to be commissioned in May 2024. It is a state owned port, owned by the Government of Kerala and will be operated by the Adani Group for a period of 40 years.

Vizhinjam Seaport Thiruvananthapuram is expected to have an impact on existing cargo movement to other ports and will cater to transshipment. It will be the largest container port in Kerala. The majority of containers originating from or destined for India are typically transshipped or subjected to double handling at international ports such as Colombo in Sri Lanka, Salalah in Oman, Port of Jebel Ali in Dubai and Singapore Port. Vizhinjam Seaport Thiruvananthapuram will primarily engage in competing with these international ports for container transshipment activities. The development of the port will be carried out in three phases, and the first phase is expected to get completed by May 2024. It is proposed to follow the landlord port model, with the intention of catering for passenger, container and other cargo shipping.[9]

History

Early history

The history of maritime trade in the area can be traced back to the second century BCE.[10] When the Aay dynasty was defeated by the Pandyas in the 8th century A.D, it prompted their migration to Vizhinjam, located in Thiruvananthapuram. Several kings, including Chadayan Karunanthan (788 AD), Karunanthadakkkan "Srivallabha," and Vikramaditya "Varaguna" (who ruled around 884–911/920 AD), are known to have served as the Ay chiefs of Vizhinjam. A 2006 excavation unearthed the remnants of a fort in Vizhinjam, that probably belonged to the Ay chieftains and was believed to date back to the eight or ninth century AD.[11] As mentioned in Sangam literature, the fort is believed to have been destroyed in the 12th century during the invasion of Kolothunga Chola.[12]

1900 to 2000

The idea for a modern port at Vizhinjam was first mooted by C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, while he was the Diwan of erstwhile Travancore state.[13][14] A survey was carried out in the 1940s, but the initial foundations of the port were conceived about fifty years later. In the later stages, Eliyas John, along with Vizhinjam Mother Port Action Committee initiated a regular sensitization program aimed at both the public and government authorities to foster a better understanding of the imperative need for the establishment of this port. On royal orders, a British engineer arrived in Travancore to study the Vizhinjam sea and shore. There was an Airport Division under the Public Works Department at the time. Under that section, the Vizhinjam Harbour Special Section was founded in 1946.[15] All of the data acquired from the surveys conducted by survey team was forwarded to Britain and the then-government. By the time Travancore and Kochi merged, India had gained independence and the regal regime had given way to democracy. In Thiru-Kochi, the idea that there is no need for a new port to challenge the existing Kochi port gained traction and the Vizhinjam Port office was closed down.[16]

2000 to 2015

The initial project model was suggested as a Public Private Partnership (PPP)- Private Services model. Two rounds of bidding and tenders called under the PPP model failed because of the inherent possibility of the project's economic rationale. The first round was granted to a Chinese company that failed to get security clearance from the centre. The second round was first awarded to Lanco Group and was then challenged in the Kerala High Court by Zoom Developers, which led to the eventual withdrawal of Lanco Group. The Kerala cabinet on 10 June 2015 decided to award the project to Adani Ports and SEZ, the sole bidder.[17]

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) acted as the transaction advisor to Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL). The IFC was appointed in November 2009 as the lead advisor to the port. The IFC undertook in 2009 - 2010 a series of studies and reports that recommended the state to undertake the project under the landlord model, under which the state would invest over US$1 billion to build the port, rather than the PPP model, under which the Private Partner would bear the cost of the port. Larsen & Toubro Infrastructure Engineering had undertaken the environmental impact assessment study of the container port.

After the landlord model was accepted by the state government, a bidding round concluded. A consortium led by Welspun was the sole eligible company for the port operator role. The Welspun Group requested a grant of about ₹480 crore (equivalent to ₹905 crore or US$110 million in 2023) in terms of Net Present Value over 16 years. In negotiations between the state government and the Welspun Group, Welspun agreed to reduce the grant to 400 Crores. Kerala State Government rejected this offer because the terms of the PPP saw no economic rationale for the State Government.[18]

An Expert Appraisal Committee of the Ministry of Environment recommended clearance for the project on 3 December 2013. Tenders for construction of a breakwater, fish landing center, and port operator began the next day. The Adani Group emerged as the sole bidder for the project and the project was awarded to Adani group projects by Kerala Government Under Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in 2015. [19]

2015 to present

When the construction works began on 5 December 2015, Adani group CEO Gautam Adani stated that the first ship would berth at the port on 1 September 2018, in fewer than 1,000 days. In 2017, Cyclone Okchi wreaked havoc on the region, damaging a piece of the completed breakwater. Since then, a paucity of limestone, the project's most critical raw material, has caused another delay. The port also faced constant resistance from surrounding fishing communities and Church groups, who claimed that the construction and debris hampered their ability to find fish and, as a result, their livelihoods. It was also affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in India. Adani group regularly invoked the force majeure clause to explain why the project was not completed in time.[20]

When the first phase was nearing completion, the first mother ship from China arrived at the Vizhinjam port on 12 October 2023. The ship Zhen-Hua 15 left China in August and arrived at the Mundra Port in Gujarat few weeks earlier. It carried one quay crane and two-yard cranes that would be installed at the port.[21]

Infrastructure and characteristics

Vizhinjam, about 14 km (8.7 mi) from Kerala's capital city of Thiruvananthapuram, is only about 10 nautical miles (19 kilometres) from the international east-west shipping route connecting Western Asia, Europe, Africa and the far eastern areas of the world. It is India's first Deep Water Transshipment Terminal, and is being developed in three distinct phases. It is the first automated seaport in India. Vizhinjam has no littoral sedimentation. By having a natural depth of 18 m (59 ft), the construction requires no to minimal dredging. Due to close proximity to international shipping routes, it takes only an hour to reach the port from the main route and the utilization of advanced port facilities further shortens the vessel's turn around time (VTT). The port has the capability to accommodate the world's largest ships for berthing, such as the ULCS container ship MSC Irina and cruise ships such as Wonder of the Seas. It is classified as an all-weather port and its operational efficiency remains consistent, unaffected by variations in high and low tide, due to minimal tidal variations.[22]

Once phase 1 is completed, Vizhinjam port is expected to accommodate 1 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent container units), with succeeding phases adding another 6.2 million TEUs, accounting for more than 70% of India's transshipment as of 2023.[23][24][25]

The port would include two breakwaters, as well as a harbor basin and wharfs. In phase 1, breakwater of total length 3,180 m (10,430 ft) (main breakwater 3,040 m (9,970 ft) with 140 m (460 ft) extension for fish landing harbor) will be developed. There would be approximately 30 berths, the majority of which would be capable of accommodating mother ships. A dedicated 500 m (1,600 ft) multipurpose berth has been designed for berthing luxury cruise ships. It has a container berth with a length of 800 m (2,600 ft) capable of handling up to the current largest 18,000 TEU container vessels and a container yard behind the quay length with a depth of up to 500 m (1,600 ft). There is a fish landing center with a total berth length of 500 m (1,600 ft) along with port craft berth of 100 m (330 ft) and Coast Guard berth of 120 m (390 ft). There are berthing and storage/operation facilities for Indian Navy with a berth 500 m (1,600 ft) long.[26]

Cruise terminal

Vizhinjam's strategic location, with its proximity to pristine beaches, historical sites, and cultural attractions, makes it an ideal base for exploring Kerala's rich heritage. Tourist places such as Kovalam,Varkala, Thiruvananthapuram, and the Padmanabhaswamy Temple are located near to the port. The Vizhinjam Cruise Terminal will have two cruise berth which is 500 m (1,600 ft) in length. The first berth will be completed in first phase and the second berth will be completed in the third phase. As of 2023, the berths will be capable of accommodating the largest cruise ship in the world.[27]

Crew change

Vizhinjam Seaport Thiruvananthapuram is expected to provide a convenient point of call for vessels navigating through the Indian Ocean region for crew change requirements. Moreover, the proximity of Trivandrum International Airport, located just 16 km (9.9 mi) from the seaport, further enhances the ease of crew change operations. Notably, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the port facilitated the embarkation of 2,807 crew members into service, while 2,737 individuals disembarked as a part of these crew change operations.[28]

Bunkering hub

Upon its commissioning, the port will serve as a key destination for bunkering and a prominent port of call, mainly because of its advantageous proximity, situated just 10 nautical miles from the world's busiest international east-west shipping channel.[29]

Draft depth and distance of ports from international shipping channel

Name Natural Draft Depth Dredged Draft Depth Distance from International Shipping Channel
Vizhinjam International Seaport Thiruvananthapuram 20.5 ~ 18 km (9.7 nmi)
Mundra Port 14 18.5 2,229 km (1,204 nmi)
JNPA,Mumbai 13 16.3 1,332 km (719 nmi)
Hazira Port 12 15.5 1,573 km (849 nmi)
Kochi Vallarpadam Port 12 14.5 130 km (70 nmi)
Colombo Port 14 19.5 90 km (49 nmi)
Singapore Port 14 19 100 km (54 nmi)
Dubai Port 14.5 17 1,500 km (810 nmi)

Administration

Vizhinjam port is a special purpose government company, fully owned by the Government of Kerala, that would act as an implementing agency for its development. In 2015, the Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited signed a 40-year agreement with the state government to build and maintain the port. Under this private public partnership deal, the Adani group would design, develop, finance, operate the port valued at 7,525 crore. According to the signed deal, Adani Group will have the only right to operate the port under licence for the first 40 years, and then for an additional 20 years if they builds the second phase of the project at its own expense during the first 30 years.[30]

Connectivity

Road connectivity

The Vizhinjam seaport has good connectivity to the rest of the country through NH 66 connected with it. The National Highway NH 66 traverses through the district, situated at an approximate distance of 3 kilometers from the shoreline, running almost parallel to the coast linking various key destinations. NH 544 primarily connects Salem to Kanyakumari and further extends its reach to Kochi. Within Thiruvananthapuram district, major urban centers include Trivandrum in the north and Nagercoil and Kanyakumari in the south, all accessible via NH 544. Additionally, the highway provides connectivity to significant towns such as Thrissur, Palakkad, Kollam, and Alappuzha within Kerala, as well as Coimbatore and Salem in Tamil Nadu. The port is also linked to Chennai. Notably, construction efforts are underway to extend the NH bypass road from Trivandrum, with plans to extend it further to Parassala, facilitating enhanced transportation infrastructure within the region.The seaport will have a connection to the upcoming Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road which is Thiruvananthapuram Outer Area Growth Corridor

Rail terminal

The third longest railway tunnel in India, which is under construction at Vizhinjam will link the Vizhinjam international Seaport Thiruvananthapuram with the railway mainline situated in Balaramapuram, Thiruvananthapuram. The construction of this tunnel employs the New Austrian tunneling method (NATM).This tunnel spans an 9.02 kilometers in length and reaches a depth of 25-30 meters beneath the ground's surface. Upon its completion, cargo trains departing from the Trivandrum Seaport will traverse the tunnel in a mere 36 minutes, maintaining an average speed of 15-30 kilometers per hour (kmph). The integration of Trivandrum Seaport into the Indian Railways network facilitates easy container transportation across India. The main line provides connectivity to major cities in Kerala and beyond. The Konkan Railway route opens up access to the western states. The southern coastal route ensures efficient rail connectivity to Tamil Nadu and various other regions, thereby contributing significantly to the nation's transportation infrastructure.

Airport terminal

Trivandrum International Airport is situated within 16 kilometers from Vizhinjam Seaport Thiruvananthapuram, the geographical proximity facilitates efficient passenger and air cargo transportation. The airport and seaport have Adani Group as the same administrative authority. This administration is further expected to enhance the coordination between the seaport and airport.

Controversies

Protest by locals

The local fishing communities had been protesting against the port allegedly abusing their human rights which intensified in August 2022. The biggest demand of the protesters is that the construction of the port on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram should be stopped and a proper environmental impact study should be carried out.[31] Rehabilitation of families who lost their homes to sea erosion, effective steps to mitigate coastal erosion, financial assistance to fisherfolk on days weather warnings are issued, compensation to families of those who lose their lives in fishing accidents, subsidised kerosene, and a mechanism to dredge the Muthalappozhi fishing harbour in Anchuthengu in Thiruvananthapuram district were the demands put forward by the community. The locals claim that more than 100 families lost their homes to coastal erosion last year, but there is no official data on the relocated families except for some church records. Around 300 families were living in schools and camps, and many others were staying in rented accommodation or with relatives. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Trivandrum has been in the forefront of the protest.[32][33][34] The Hindu Dheevara community as well as several environmental activists are supporting the protest.[35]

On 27 November 2022 night, some protesters attacked Vizhinjam police station, leaving over 30 on-duty policemen injured.[36] Attackers were demanding the release of five protesters who had been detained the previous day.[37] On 6 December 2022, the protests were called-off after a series of talks held between the protesters and the government.[38][39]

The government of Kerala and the Gujarat-based Adani group have been embroiled in a legal dispute over the delay in completion of the project. The project was delayed after the private partner - Adani repeatedly kept on invoking the force majeure clause to explain the delay in completing the project. Later, the parties agreed to enter into an arbitration to resolve the dispute.[40]

See also

References

  1. ↑ M.K, Nidheesh (18 October 2023). "Vizhinjam: The port that almost wasn't built". mint.
  2. ↑ "Vizhinjam Port to be fully commissioned at May 2024". India Times.
  3. 1 2 "First vessel docks at Vizhinjam port: Exploring its characteristics and history". English.Mathrubhumi. 15 October 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  4. ↑ "Vizhinjam beckons world's biggest container ships". Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  5. ↑ "Kerala: Vizinjam port to be officially known as 'Trivandrum International Sea Port'". Asianet News. 10 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  6. ↑ "Kerala CM releases name, logo of Vizhinjam International Seaport Thiruvananthapuram". OnManorama. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  7. ↑ Kallungal, Dhinesh (12 July 2023). "Vizhinjam railway tunnel, third longest tunnel in country, to adopt Austrian tunnelling method". Retrieved 10 January 2024 – via www.thehindu.com.
  8. ↑ "Explainer: Vizhinjam port in Kerala and its potential in India's maritime trade". Hindustan Times. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  9. ↑ Manoj, P. (2 September 2016). "Move to landlord port model means privatizing state-run cargo berths". mint. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  10. ↑ "Excavations at Vizhinjam | Department of Archaeology, University of Kerala". Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  11. ↑ "Vizhinjam: Once a port, always a port". The Hindu. 9 August 2013. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  12. ↑ "Shedding light on Vizhinjam's golden past". The Hindu. 6 May 2014. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  13. ↑ "A Big Dream that Sir CP Couldn't Realise". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  14. ↑ "വിഴിഞ്ഞം തുറമുഖം: ഉറപ്പുകളൊക്കെ കടലെടുത്തു; പദ്ധതി വൈകുന്നതിൻറെ നേട്ടംകൊയ്യാൻ ചൈന". Mathrubhumi. 26 September 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  15. ↑ Bureau, The Hindu (22 June 2022). "The visionary who foresaw the potential of Vizhinjam to turn 100". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  16. ↑ "GG Menon visits Vizhinjam International Transshipment Port". Motherport News. 31 December 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  17. ↑ "Adani Vizhiňňam Port: Phase 1 to come up by 2020". The Financial Express. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  18. ↑ "Conceived 3 decades ago, Kerala's Vizhinjam port to be a reality by 2023". Hindustan Times. 13 February 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  19. ↑ "Kerala in pact with Adani for Rs 7,525-crore Vizhinjam port project". The Economic Times. PTI. 17 August 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  20. ↑ Kallungal, Dhinesh (17 June 2023). "Only 55% of Vizhinjam port work completed; commissioning in May unlikely". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  21. ↑ "Zhen Hua from China to be first cargo vessel to dock at Vizhinjam port". Moneycontrol. 11 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  22. ↑ Paul, Jose (29 December 2022). "Vizhinjam will make a good port". BusinessLine. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  23. ↑ "Vizhinjam Port". Adani Ports. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  24. ↑ "'Potential to compete with Singapore': How Adani Group's Vizhinjam Port is a maritime game changer for India". Business Today. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  25. ↑ "Adani's new mega port can lure world's biggest ships to India". Bloomberg. Deccan Herald. 15 October 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  26. ↑ "About Vizhinjam : Vizhinjam Port Project". www.vizhinjamport.org. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  27. ↑ Daily, Keralakaumudi. "Vizhinjam to beat Kochi to be cruise tourism hub in state". Keralakaumudi Daily. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  28. ↑ Bureau, The Hindu (16 January 2023). "State urges Centre to resume crew change at Vizhinjam". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  29. ↑ "'Potential to compete with Singapore': How Adani Group's Vizhinjam Port is a maritime game changer for India". Business Today. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  30. ↑ "Vizhinjam Port: വിഴിഞ്ഞം തുറമുഖത്തേക്ക് ആദ്യ കപ്പൽ ഒക്ടോബർ 15ന് എത്തും; സ്വീകരിക്കാനൊരുങ്ങി സംസ്ഥാന സർക്കാർ". India Today Malayalam (in Malayalam). Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  31. ↑ Vengattil, Munsif; Chaturvedi, Arpan; Kalra, Aditya; Vengattil, Munsif; Kalra, Aditya (23 November 2022). "Insight: Indian tycoon Adani's mega port hangs in the balance as a fishing community protests". Reuters. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  32. ↑ "Explained: Why fisherfolk in Kerala are protesting Adani's under-construction Vizhinjam port". 23 August 2022.
  33. ↑ "As parties hedge, Church backs fishermen's protest against Adani port project". 22 August 2022.
  34. ↑ "Vizhinjam stir to be scaled up; KCBC backs plan".
  35. ↑ "Vizhinjam protest resulted from our helplessness: Eugine H Pereira".
  36. ↑ "Vizhinjam police station attack: Police book 3000 people, FIR cites damages worth Rs 85 lakh". English.Mathrubhumi. 28 November 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  37. ↑ "Vizhinjam police station violence: Kerala HC dismisses plea seeking NIA probe". The News Minute. 6 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  38. ↑ "Protest against Vizhinjam sea port called for now". The Economic Times. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  39. ↑ "വിഴിഞ്ഞം സമരം പിൻവലിച്ചു; തീരുമാനം മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിയുമായി നടത്തിയ ചർച്ചയിൽ" [Vizhinjam port protest called-off after meeting with Chief Minister]. Mathrubhumi (in Malayalam). 6 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  40. ↑ Saikiran, KP (22 February 2021). "Vizhinjam port: Govt appoints Kurian Joseph as arbitrator". The Times of India.

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